Chapter 1227: Chapter 1225: The Tripartite Great War Selection (Middle)
"The strength of the Three Elders of Dust and Wind is beyond doubt, among the sixteen giants, they all belong to the top-tier existence."
"And with divine artifacts, the Flying Horse Emperor and the master of the Demon Blade are even more terrifying than the Three Elders of Dust and Wind, but they can only make five moves at most. These five individuals are the main force in this battle!"
"What a pity, the National Master refused the invitation. Even if he is not as good as the above five, he is far superior to others. I really don’t know what he is thinking?"
Upon learning the news that the Flying Horse Emperor and the master of the Demon Blade would join the battle, countless people in the East Victory continent were overjoyed, but some had mixed feelings.
Because, fundamentally, the master of the Demon Blade is an invader, leading the people of Japan to occupy the lands of the Central Plain.
But the battle of the three parties concerns the ownership of the land of Fate, and at such a critical moment, the more strength one has, the more secure it is. The resistance of the minority was quickly submerged in the excitement of the multitude.
The originally publicly recommended six experts are one short without the National Master, so another must be added. The warriors of East Victory began listing their suitable candidates in their minds, with endless debates ensuing.
A few days later, earth-shattering news arrived.
Che Renzhong received an invitation from the blind old man, confirming his participation in the battle.
Thus, the irreplaceable six in various lists have all been confirmed, leaving only one, Shi Xiaole.
However, it was not long before some claimed that Shi Xiaole had disappeared five years ago and had been targeted for a joint assassination by experts from Miaojiang and the South Sea before his disappearance. It’s possible he’s no longer of this world.
The entire East Victory continent was in an uproar.
Who is Shi Xiaole?
He is the iconic figure of the entire East Victory continent, the emperor among geniuses, the Supreme Lord among swordsmen, leaving behind countless soul-stirring legends in his journey.
Even in the South Sea and Miaojiang, countless people worship him, becoming his loyal followers. Some individuals naturally transcend boundaries and races with their charisma.
At any time, in any place, you can hear people discussing this naïve and adorable name, whether they reminisce, yearn, adore, or hate...
There has never been anyone like him in the world; even after disappearing for many years, he remains the center of discussion in the Martial World. Even as new talents emerge, the miracles they create combined may still not amount to what that one person accomplished over a few years.
Some say that Shi Xiaole’s strength may not be the best in the world, but in terms of fame and impact, none of the sixteen giants can compare to him. Almost nobody in the entire East Victory world is unaware of Shi Xiaole.
From some point on, Shi Xiaole has become the pride of the East Victory continent. Whether you love him or hate him, at least when facing warriors from the South Sea and Miaojiang, mentioning his name always makes one subconsciously stand tall.
But now, they say that Shi Xiaole is dead? No, how could he die!
"Hahaha, this is the biggest joke I’ve heard. How many times has our great village master barely escaped death? Since his debut, he’s brushed shoulders with the grim reaper on numerous occasions. Which time didn’t he pull through? With his supreme luck and the martial way of life and death, who could kill him?"
"Exactly, in my opinion, this news must be deliberately released by someone with ulterior motives, trying to disrupt the morale of our East Victory continent and interfere with those who will do battle."
Countless people immediately rebutted, denouncing the news as nonsense, firmly believing that Shi Xiaole would return. Moreover, it was rumored early on that the Three Elders of Dust and Wind had a close relationship with Shi Xiaole and may have already invited him.
But then, some dug out that over five years ago in the Lingkong Mountain Range, a world-shaking battle indeed took place, with several fake Sky Origin Realm experts making a move.
Concerning the sixteen giants, the news of that battle did not make it to the top collection of Martial World tales, so few knew of it. But at this delicate juncture, it was suddenly spread and, like a tsunami, reached every corner of the world.
"I can’t believe this is true, but think about it, why did the Three Elders of Dust and Wind go madly to Miaojiang and the South Sea back then, creating a devastating killing layout that almost led to decisive battles among the three powerhouses?"
"And Xuanyuan Lang, according to news from the South Sea, when the elders rushed to the Xuanyuan Clan, it was the Black White Master who stepped in to stop them. It stands to reason that Xuanyuan Lang would not stay put amidst such a face-losing event, unless he was unable to act."
"There are rumors that in Miaojiang, the families of the five great witches suffered many deaths among their younger members. With such deep-seated hatred, they would certainly seek retribution unless they were at fault in the first place!"
"Over five years ago, some claimed to have seen Shi Xiaole in Lingshui Town but didn’t dare approach..."
A single clue may not mean much, but when someone intentionally connects all the relevant information, a shocking truth seems to be on the verge of emerging.
In such a situation, the chief steward of Nine Heavens Mountain, Qu Wuyan, immediately stepped forward to deny these unfounded claims.
But more people became suspicious, pondering why Shi Xiaole himself had not appeared to reassure everyone if there were such a need. Indeed, who has seen him since the Battle of Fate?
If you think about it, with Shi Xiaole’s talent, how could the few giants of Miaojiang and the South Sea allow him to grow unchecked? It was very likely they acted in concert!
Suddenly, all sorts of rumors about Shi Xiaole were rife, leaving countless admirers worrying for their ultimate idol in their hearts.
The mystery of Shi Xiaole’s life and death remained unsolved, but the seventh warrior was confirmed. It was the Golden Silkworm Emperor.
In the Battle of Fate in East Victory, the Golden Silkworm Emperor ranked second, second only to Che Renzhong, and he was also among the combatants favored by many.
Yet in Miaojiang and the South Sea, there were no fewer than a handful of individuals who could match or even defeat the Golden Silkworm Emperor. Locking him in as the seventh made all the warriors of East Victory grow heavy-hearted, sensing a very bad omen.
"The remaining three should be chosen from among the Undying Ancestor, the Sect Leader of the Six Lotus Sect, the Sect Leader of the Holy Heaven Sect, and Mu Yuanhao. They are the strongest outside the seven."
"But this is not the strongest lineup of East Victory," said Shi Xiaole.
"Wake up, what would it matter even if we sent out the strongest lineup? According to the rules of the tripartite battle, Miaojiang is the strongest, followed by the South Sea. Originally, if the National Master and the grand master had joined the battle, there might’ve been a chance. Now, heh."
Countless people began to despair for their own battle group. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. On the eve of the tripartite battle, the atmosphere in East Victory’s Martial World was unprecedentedly oppressive.
The ownership of the land of fate was at stake. If they were defeated in this battle, not only would they miss out on the best cultivation environment, but they would also be cursed by countless descendants as incompetent!
It was foreseeable that in years to come, the already lagging Martial World of East Victory would be left even further behind by the other two lands.
As for relocation, the detailed rules of the tripartite battle that had been announced clearly stated that after the battle, the borders of the three lands would be more rigorously guarded. Non-natives could only stay for a limited time. Otherwise, what would be the point of the tripartite battle?
...
In the Daxia dynasty, the Chengping Region.
A city shrouded in the deep mountain mist could only be seen by masters whose spirit power had reached a forbidden level. This was the Undying King City, the headquarters of the Undying Alliance.
Inside the great hall of the Undying King City, a group of people sat on either side of a hundred-meter-long square table, and at the end sat an old man with red hair.
"Ancestor, everyone is saying that you will be invited to represent East Victory in the battle. This is a matter that will mark your name in history, a cause for celebration," chuckled the middle-aged man, lifting his head after looking through the information gathered by his subordinates.
Being invited to fight was a great responsibility, but it also represented the highest honor, for without compelling strength, who would extend you an invitation?
In ten thousand years, people will surely forget about the fifty emperors, the prodigy list, but the masters who participate in this battle will be recorded in the annals of history.
"Is that so funny?"
The red-haired old man suddenly opened his eyes. The icy gaze caused the middle-aged man to stiffen, unable to laugh any longer.
"Idiot!"
Some people cursed inwardly, but their expressions remained calm, obviously not wanting to offend the middle-aged man, who was a direct descendant of the Undying Ancestor.
In the dimly lit and silent great hall, ripples of void danced, and from them emerged a gaunt old man with white hair. The Undying King City’s rigorous Array System, along with the insight of the masters present, had failed to detect his approach in advance.
To everyone’s shock, the Undying Ancestor lifted his hand and spoke to the gaunt old man, "Qin Elder, have you come to invite me to fight?"
Qin Elder?
Those who originally thought of taking action were now sweating coldly from their foreheads.
"Your strength may not be sufficient, but you have the advantage of an undying physique, which can deplete the opponent to the utmost. The great battle will take place on the Fate platform, with no risk to life. Are you willing?" Qin Elder said indifferently.
Everyone was astonished to hear his evaluation of the Undying Ancestor, but the Ancestor did not get angry and instead asked, "Who are the other two?"
A look of helplessness flashed across Qin Elder’s aged face, "There aren’t many choices, probably the Holy Heaven Scholar and Mu Yuanhao."
"What about Shi Xiaole? Could the rumors be true?"
The Undying Ancestor furrowed his brow, his eyes darkening.
If it had been at any other time, he would have wished for Shi Xiaole’s death, as his existence was a threat to everyone. But now, he did not want anything to happen to Shi Xiaole.
Qin Elder did not speak.
Of course, Shi Xiaole would be fine, but after the change in the rules of heaven and earth, the Heavenly Destiny Divine Fortune Teller’s predictions had become more difficult. He could ascertain that Shi Xiaole was unharmed but couldn’t pinpoint his exact location.
Now they could only pray that Shi Xiaole would show up in time and not miss the moment. After all, as long as the battle hadn’t started, the fighting personnel could always be replaced at any time.
The silence of Qin Elder was perceived as an acquiescence by the high-ranking members of the Undying Alliance, causing complex feelings to brew within them. They didn’t know whether to feel joy or sorrow.
Taking a deep breath, the Undying Ancestor proclaimed, "This is a major matter for the Martial World of East Victory. I will not, and cannot, refuse. I agree to fight!"
Nodding, Qin Elder disappeared into the void.
Before long, news that the Undying Ancestor and the Holy Heaven Scholar had agreed to fight spread through the Martial World, yet the final spot remained undecided.
Everyone knew that the three veterans of the Martial World were also waiting, waiting for that person who should appear to make their entrance.
As days passed, the spiritual energy grew denser, and the tripartite battle drew ever closer. However, within the Martial World, there was still no trace of Shi Xiaole.
